While Killiney Travel are still recovering from their St Patrick's Day spree, we've been busy gathering all the business updates from quarter one. News, highlights and updates – plus find out where Duncan, Brian and Rick would actually go on holiday. And more importantly, where they wouldn't!
A belated Happy New Year – and a very timely Happy Easter to you all!
Thankfully, we had plenty of snow in Lapland, so it would appear the power of prayer is real!
And just like that, we’re off again into another interesting year… and what a start it’s been.
January and February were absolutely flying, with really strong customer demand across the board. Those two months alone saw us bring in over £100 million in sales across the group, what a brilliant effort and all down to your hard work and dedication.
Then we were Trumped!
The war in the Middle East continues to cause chaos.
What a curveball it’s been, we’ve had well over a thousand passengers in need of help, repatriations, changes of plans and extended stays. All of this while working in a very challenging and fast-moving environment. This is exactly the kind of situation where, we do what we do best and it shows the benefits of dealing with a professional and caring travel partner, being there for our customers when they needed us most.
And once again, you delivered.
Brian, Rick and I are under no illusions, we know full well how tough and stressful this period has been and will continue to be, in more ways than one. We also know this isn’t new territory for you all and you’ve proved that time and time again. The way that everyone has pulled together and handled things was genuinely impressive, you’ve done an excellent job and we are hugely grateful.
So yes, it’s already been quite a year thus far… and I suspect there’s plenty more to come.
Be proud of yourselves, we three most definitely are.
Duncan, Rick & Brian
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We're pleased to announce John Semple has been busy diversifying the company's sporting portfolio.
Who's ready for CheltenhamKings?
Passport stamp, return ticket or forget the flights –Duncan, Brian and Rick share their honest travel takes!
Duncan: Taj Mahal, an iconic wonder of the world, romantic building known for its beauty and grandeur.
Brian: Skiing in Japan: from what I read Rusutsu would be great and the powder would hide my lack of technique.
Rick: West Canada – Mountains, Trains, Alaska & Whales plus, a cowboy or two for BW…
Duncan: Edinburgh... for obvious reasons.
Duncan: Soneva Jani, Maldives - Peaceful, relaxing and wonderfully attentive staff.
Brian: Any quiet Spanish village that is off the beaten track. Hearty food, earthy wine and warm nights – difficult to beat.
Rick: Japan.. Awesome Country & Great People.
Brian: The only Moscow I’d consider going to any time soon is just East of Kilmarnock.
Rick: Prague in January. I thought it would be a good idea at the time... Cold, miserable & naff food however, the beer was good!
voucher to your favourite restaurant
All you have to do is share your passport stamp, return ticket and forget the flight destinations!
Email your answers to newsletter@brooklyntravel.com by 10 April for your chance to win!
Stewart Travel survived January, our busiest booking month, working long hours and six-day weeks – but we got there!
It’s been a great team effort in Q1, and we’re upscaling our online team following their continued success. Welcome back Amanda Macdonald and Lauren Dunning from maternity leave, and Dougie Muir to Belfast after a long illness. We’re also celebrating Julie Young’s 10 years and Agnes Williams’ 20 years.
10 and 20 years strong!
Our team has continued to develop and test the new Travelflow 2 product over the last quarter, which has involved refreshing our current system and creating a more user friendly environment. We’ve also begun transitioning existing clients onto the new platform and have seen new clients go live as well. In addition to this, we’re progressing well with our Travelflow Cruise product alongside Cruise Kings.
Team updates
We’re excited to welcome Abbey Richardson as our new Training & Implementation Specialist and look forward to working with her on the team.
GolfKings experienced its busiest and best start to the year on record! We welcomed Aidan Staines to Sales, Michelle Currie to Customer Services, and celebrated Al Ross turning 30. The team has also been out and about on an inspection tour in Cyprus, while a few attempted some golf in the Algarve.
Sun, Swings, and Inspections
Marketing: The first quarter of 2026 was very satisfactory for the marketing team. Milestones were hit – driving brand growth, campaign success, and pushing momentum into quarter two. Two members of the team proved their unfettered masculinity and will become first time fathers later this year. Congratulations to Gary Nelson and Hamish MacIntosh.
Accounts: The Finance team have been working hard on the year end accounts audit since January. We've just about survived and want to say thanks to all teams that have helped by giving back up/explanations of that one obscure file the auditors managed to find. Expecting to raise a glass once the auditors give the big thumbs up.
We’ve got all the latest updates from our brands across the board. From exciting news to behind-the-scenes moments, we’re sharing a bit of everything happening in our offices. Grab a cuppa and have a read!
My Canada Trips and Trips Beyond kicked off the year at the Destination Travel Show in London. The teams were busy inspiring visitors with our holiday offerings and helping travellers plan their next adventures. We’re also delighted to welcome Maria Astapova and Jennifer Pollock to our Customer Service team, strengthening support for our customers throughout the year.
The first quarter set a positive tone for the year, with an exceptional February lifting team spirit. As momentum builds, we’re excitedly preparing our destinations for their 2026 re opening and the villa season ahead.
2026 got off to a flying start at CruiseKings – with record-breaking days, weeks and months!
We’ve further expanded our team with new Cruise Experts, Flight Specialists and Customer Service stars. And, with a wave of exciting new ships launching in 2026 and beyond, we're attracting lots of new to cruise and new to us, with half of our bookings from new clients.
We’re proud to have won the Feefo Gold Trusted Service Award, recognising the team’s dedication to delivering excellent service.
HR: Q1 has been a busy one for the HR team! Working and supporting on both day to day queries and projects that will span the next few months. 2026 is the year for changes in Employment Law, with updates on that to follow soon. A reminder to email the HR inbox if you have any queries or require any support from us - Hr@brooklyntravel.com.
It’s been a busy start to the year for Killiney Travel, with the team attending the Holiday World Show in Dublin and working alongside key suppliers, resulting in some great bookings. With ongoing uncertainty around flying, the team has also been exploring alternative holiday options and has recently begun promoting camping holidays in France in partnership with Irish Ferries.
We are pleased to announce that Faremine is now fully integrated with Dolphin Dynamics, making our negotiated flight content easier for agents to access and book. This integration brings greater efficiency, faster access to competitive fares, and seamless workflow for agents, while building on over 40 years of industry experience, strong airline partnerships, and expert support across the travel trade.
We’ve had an incredible start to 2026, with 5,171 people booking for Winter 2026 in January alone! Nicola Blair and Jacqui Banham enjoyed a few days in Lapland exploring our new resort, Olos, as the team continues creating memorable experiences for our customers.
Team achievements
The team attended training with Aer Lingus, Avalon and Azamara, to build product knowledge and strengthen supplier relationships to better support our customers.
Faremine and Dolphin Dynamics join forces
Team achievements
We’re delighted to welcome Lee Mather as our new Reservations and Admin Consultant, joining the team to help manage bookings and support our growing Winter 2026 demand.
IT: We’re excited to welcome Kerryann Logan to our IT team! Please join us in giving her a warm welcome as she settles in. A quick reminder for all staff: IT security training is being rolled out via Keepnet and will arrive directly in your inbox. Keep an eye out and complete the training promptly to stay secure.
We’ve kicked off 2026 with some exciting milestones and achievements. We launched our new website and refreshed our branding, celebrated Steve Blackburn’s 40th work anniversary, and co-sponsored the Leeds Knights Cup Final alongside Deep South. We also shared our expertise at the Destination Show in Manchester, inspiring our customers with all things North America and marking a dynamic start to the year.
We’re thrilled with the launch of Destinology’s new online booking platform. Customers can now search, package, and book holidays seamlessly online, with strong demand across the Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean. This milestone validates our digital strategy and expands our portfolio with realtime availability, competitive pricing, and enhanced holiday options for all our customers.
We’ve had a fantastic start to the year at Santa Claus Trips, with demand and bookings up yearon-year. We’re proud to have retained our Platinum Feefo status, reflecting our ongoing commitment to customer service excellence. Soon, some of our team will head to Lapland with Canterbury Travel on a familiarisation trip to explore hotels and resorts.
Our team worked hard to support the successful launch of our fully transactional online booking platform, helping ensure smooth operations and a great start to this exciting digital initiative.
Business Processes: A busy start to the year for Admin, supporting Retail and the Santa Team, keeping client documents flowing. Thanks to the team for the teamwork and positivity – we’re all set for summer departures, Retail & MCT! The admin team also swapped desks for snow and festive fun on a day trip to Lapland.
3rd year in a row!
Meet the Stewart Travel Management teambased at home, in the office, and probably on hold with an airline as you read this!
Dedicated to delivering reliable corporate travel, from flights and hotels to events and beyond. A few of them declined to feature but we won't name names. We've got a few work trips needing sorted...
Next trip in the books for Kim
She's off to Cyprus, courtesy of the Christmas Party Raffle. Not bad!
The corporate team has quite the collection of unique talents:
Polar bears, 32-foot RVs, and what AI means for travel. We sat down with Destinology's director, Ryan Johnston, for our very first newsletter interview of 2026.
Ryan's first travel job was when he was 16 at Airtours Holidays and he's never looked back. After decades in the industry, his advice to his younger self would be: stay patient and let experience, relationships and judgement build over time. As it turns out, a patient wife helps too!
How would you describe Destinology to someone who's never heard of it?
Destinology is a luxury travel specialist focused on creating exceptional holidays and experiences for our customers. We combine expert knowledge, global partnerships and genuine personal service to create holidays that feel truly special.
What sets Destinology apart?
Our people. Incredible destination knowledge, genuine passion for travel, and strong relationships with hotels, cruise lines and airlines worldwidethat's what makes our holidays truly special.
What are you most proud of since taking the helm at Destinology?
Without question, the team. Travel has been through some extraordinary challenges in recent years, and I'm incredibly proud of how resilient, professional, and customer-focused everyone has become.
What's next for Destinology?
More tailor-made and experiential travel, plus continued investment in technology and partnerships to make planning those trips even easier.
What's the most memorable trip you've ever taken?
Iceland and Greenland on an expedition cruise. Seeing polar bears, icebergs, and glaciers up close was truly remarkable. One of those trips that reminds you how incredible our planet is.
Where's next on your travel wish list?
Exploring the Canadian Rockies in an RV on a My Canada Trips holiday. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about driving a 32-foot vehicle around mountain roads, but my daughters are very excited about the lakes, mountains and towns across Alberta and British Columbia. Probably more than the driving I'll be responsible for!
AI
Will AI change luxury travel?
Absolutely, it will transform how customers discover destinations and build itineraries.
However, I genuinely believe the Brooklyn brands have a real advantage because we succeed through people, relationships and experience.
Are there parts of the travel experience where you hope AI never gets involved?
The human connection! When people are planning important trips, they still value speaking with someone who genuinely cares about getting it right and no technology will ever replace that.
Andrew Trueman, one of Santa Claus Trips' Lapland Experts, took to the stage as Joey in Sister Act with Maltby Musical Theatre and by all accounts he was absolutely brilliant!
Lindsay Smith from North America Travel Service hits the big 5-0, celebrating with confetti, laughs, and dancing shoes.
Ruth Nugent from Marketing turned 30 and enjoyed a day full of tiramisu, the yummiest way to celebrate!
Kerry Christie from CruiseKings recharged with a yoga retreat in Kenya – calm mind, happy heart, and all the good vibes brought back home!
Samantha McCall from Santa Claus Trips completed her debut Hyrox in Glasgow – and finished with a surprise engagement!
It’s been an awardwinning period across our Brooklyn Travel brands, with Highly Commended Partnership Achievement Awards from Holland America Line and Cunard at the Carnival UK Cruise Awards, along with recognition at the Silversea Cruises Advocate Awards.
Birthdays, sports wins, awards, team nights out, and all the personal and work milestones that made this quarter memorable, celebrating achievements, laughter, and team spirit across the company.
Colleagues from Stewart Travel and CruiseKings attended the CLIA RiverView Conference in Amsterdam, one of the biggest events in the river cruise calendar, bringing together cruise lines, suppliers, and experts from across the industry.
While the office keeps busy, Jasper from Billian IT Solutions has been roaming the North Lakes, making everyone a little jealous!
From start to finish, Alex Bell from CruiseKings conquered his first Hyrox Sim at ULT – a big congratulations for an impressive effort!
Rita Gray from CruiseKings, joined by her family, completed both the El Gouna Half Marathon and Pyramids 5K; running, cheering, and conquering new heights together!
Disco, Dinner, Delight!
Pyramids, Pace & Proud Moments!
Canterbury Travel enjoyed a belated Christmas celebration with a tasty meal followed by Queenz; Drag Me to the Disco – a night full of fun, music, and sparkle!
Joanne Corcoran from Marketing got a Lisbonthemed surprise with a rather creative AI bidet card, fun and unexpected!
From newborns and engagements to weddings, this quarter has been full of love, excitement, and heartwarming milestones
Tammika Bernard from Santa Claus Trips is embracing all the joys (and sleepless nights) of life with her baby!
Lauren Baillie from Stewart Travel celebrates her bundle of joy and cuddles.
Welcome baby girl! Ethan Hollyoak from Stewart Travel is beaming with pride.
Kelsey Differ –soon to be a mother
My Canada Trips, Kelsey is all set to welcome her happy & healthy little explorer.
Baby boss Finlay arrives
Genie Wilson from CruiseKings and Jack can’t stop smiling –their baby boy is here!
Baby Olivia has arrived!
Felicity Cooper from Destinology welcomed Olivia, 7lb 8oz of pure love and snuggles!
Wedding plans are officially a go! Lori Limond from CruiseKings is ready to say “I do” in 2027.
Wedding bells for Lauren Nicol
Stewart Travel's Lauren said “Yes!” –looks like someone’s future meetings might involve wedding planning!
Romy couldn't wait to meet her mum
Beth Higson from Destinology literally logged off for maternity… and welcomed Romy the next day!
Lad Wilfred
Ryan Hill from Destinology welcomed Wilfred – already stealing hearts and causing adorable chaos!
Exciting times for Hayley from HR as daughter Gracie prepares for her role as big sister.
David White's baby number 2
David from My Canada Trips is counting down to baby number two – double the love, laughter, and adventures!
